Journal of Rural and Community Development
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The Tenth Anniversary of the Journal of Rural Community Development
Get PDFThis issue marks the tenth anniversary of the Journal of Rural and Community Development (JRCD). It contains six articles on a range of topics covering North America, Europe, and Asia. At the JRCD we are all very proud of our accomplishments over the past decade. In this editorial, I wish to outline the history and context of the journey that has taken us to 2015
Livability and Transportation on Indian Reservations
Get PDFFew resources exist that address the livability and sustainability of rural and Tribal communities. In order to improve transportation safety and other transportation issues in these communities, they need programs that meet their specific needs and culture and the ability to sustain these programs. This paper identifies the many programs that address livability and sustainability. It identifies the challenges Tribes face in providing opportunities and quality living options. This paper endeavors to identify a framework for transportation strategies to give rural and Tribal communities the tools for increased livability. Each Tribe has different goals and priorities that would affect how they define livability. Transportation is a large factor in improving quality of life and economic opportunities in rural and Tribal communities. Roadway safety is a primary goal among Native Americans in their efforts to improve life among their people with high fatality rates among their young people which is attributed to crashes due to alcohol, lack of seatbelt use, speeding and roadway conditions.
Keywords: Livability, Indian reservations, transportation, safety, rural
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Résumé
Il existe peu de ressources concernant la viabilité et la pérennité des communautés tribales. Afin d'améliorer la sécurité des transports et de pallier les aux autres problèmes de transports dans ces communautés, elles ont besoin de programmes qui répondent à leurs besoins particuliers et à leurs cultures ainsi que la capacité de maintenir ces programmes. Cet article identifie les différents programmes qui répondent aux besoins de viabilité et de pérennité. Il identifie les défis auxquels les tribus font face en offrant des opportunités et des options de qualité de vie. Cet article s'efforce d'identifier un cadre pour des stratégies de transports afin de donner des outils aux communautés tribales et rurales pour améliorer leur viabilité. Chaque tribu a différents objectifs et priorités qui pourraient affecter la manière de définir la viabilité. Les transports sont un facteur prépondérant dans l'amélioration de la qualité de vie et dans les opportunités économiques des communautés rurales et tribales. La sécurité routière est un objectif premier parmi les Amérindiens dans leurs efforts d'amélioration de leur qualité de vie, du fait de hauts taux d'accident mortels chez les jeunes causés par l'alcool, le non-usage de la ceinture de sécurité, les excès de vitesse et les conditions de la route
The prospects for empowerment through local governance for tourism- the LEADER approach
Get PDFWhile empowerment and cooperation are essential to achieve these tourism governance goals, few, if any studies, investigated conditions for empowerment in tourism governance in the post-communist setting. Filling the gap, this paper critically examines the prospects for empowerment in tourism governance in Poland. The extensive desk-study was conducted in 2010 to investigate the issues of empowerment in governance for tourism development. It focused on gathering and analyzing information about LEADER, and its transfer into the Polish context. The empirical data collection included guided interviews with 18 key-informants involved in LEADER. The article concludes that in the post-communist reality, the immediate concern is the effectiveness of community-led local development initiatives. New actors in tourism governance must demonstrate their value as legitimate partners and secure funds that develop and sustain empowering mechanisms to increase community capacity in both planning and implementation of local development initiatives.
Keywords: tourism governance, empowerment, LEADER, community-led development, Polan
The Role of Responses to Experiences of Rural Population Decline in the Social Capital of Families
Get PDFPopulation decline in rural areas has an impact on rural villages. This research investigates to what extent families with children in rural villages experience consequences of population decline, in which ways they respond to these experiences, and how that plays a role in their individual social capital and the communal social capital of their village of residence. To answer these questions, 23 in-depth interviews with families with children were conducted in seven villages in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands. The results show that experienced consequences of population decline largely pertain to tangible aspects of the living environment, such as the decline of services. When meeting places are lost, individual and communal social capital may certainly be harmed. Nevertheless, experienced consequences of population decline can also trigger protective or entrepreneurial communal responses that are beneficial to social capital. For this latter type of response the presence of people who take the lead are more important than any other outside influence. A considerable concern of these community leaders is the decrease in investments of local governments and other institutions, because that is believed to put increasing pressure on already existent self-reliance
Evaluating the Feasibility of an Affordable Housing and Community Centre: A Case Study from Rural Ontario
Get PDFThis case study analyzes the feasibility of building an affordable housing and community services complex in rural Ontario. Lessons were learned about project scope, task order and importance, financial feasibility and potential funding sources, the importance of professional expertise, relationships with key partners, and governance.
While the concept of affordable housing and a community centre has appeal and would benefit the community, it is not, as currently envisioned, financially viable. The addition of government grants and a reduction in the proposed project size and scope have the potential to make the project feasible.
Keywords: feasibility analysis, affordable housing, public private partnerships, rural Ontario, not-for-profit governanc
How Young Adults Perceive Their Rural Ohio Communities
Get PDFThis study analyzes the trends and issues related to the retention of young adults in Northwest Ohio. Researchers sampled over 340 young adults (25-34 years of age) from 8 counties in Northwest Ohio. Results highlight rural community perceptions of young adults as well as those factors that impact the decision to remain in Rural Northwest Ohio. Sampled adults report generally favorable impressions of the area with emphasis on the quality of schools, community safety, and affordability of the area. Overall lower ratings were revealed on components related to cultural, entertainment, and employment opportunities in the area. Respondents with higher incomes and those with stronger Northwest Ohio roots, i.e., who were themselves raised in Northwest Ohio along with their parents, were more likely to feel positively about Northwest Ohio's economic outlook and the community's strength. In addition, the higher the respondent's education, the more likely they were to react positively regarding the community's strength/safety. Young adults reported that parents were a strong influence on their decision to return or remain in their rural communities.
Keywords: youth, community, development, career, retentio
From Place to Space: Exploring Youth Migration and Homelessness in Rural Nova Scotia
Get PDFThe study explored the issue of rural homelessness in Nova Scotia, and the trajectories that rural homeless youth take in their young lives, as they typically leave their rural home to move to an urban centre. While it is certainly true that a large proportion of homeless youth live in large urban centres, the consequence of this narrow focus is a lack of deep understanding about the experiences and trajectories of marginally housed and homeless youth in rural contexts.
Keywords: rurality, youth homelessness, rural-urban migration, space versus plac
The Social Impact of Out-Migration: A Case Study from Rural and Small Town Nova Scotia, Canada
Get PDFBy drawing from Statistics Canada and qualitative research data, we assess the social impact of population decline in the Strait Region of Nova Scotia. Statistics Canada data show that from 2001 to 2006, there was a net out-migration from the Strait Region to other areas in Canada. This was a continuance of a pattern established nearly two decades ago. This, coupled with an aging population, means that the economic viability and social vitality of the Strait Region is being slowly undermined. The decline in the population of rural and small town settlements over the past two decades has negative implications for the local economy, families and communities, and community support structures in the Strait Region. We conclude by arguing that more resources are needed for the retention of immigrants if some of the negative consequences of out-migration (such as labour market shortages) are to be redressed.
Keywords: socioeconomic structures, community support structures, out-migration, immigratio
The New Telecommunications Sector Foreign Investment Regime and Rural Broadband
Get PDFCanada's telecommunications sector is in the midst of significant change. New rules on foreign investment and upcoming auctions for licenses for wireless mobile services are aimed at increasing competition; however, these changes are unlikely to produce significant benefit for rural Canadians. An analysis of the new foreign investment regulations reveals that the new approach will likely weaken the government's ability to meet the goals of Canadian telecommunications policy outlined in the Telecommunications Act. Furthermore an examination of the licensed purchase and services provided from the last wireless spectrum auction in 2008 reveals new entrants' clear preference for providing service in urban areas. The paper concludes by positing that if the Government of Canada wishes to ensure that next generation 4G wireless services are available to Canada's rural and remote population, the government must stop its reliance on market forces to develop national broadband and instead create a comprehensive national plan.
Key words: spectrum management, rural broadband, foreign investment, 700MHz spectrum auction, Radio System Policy 01
Embeddedness, Marketness, and Economic Instrumentalism in the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program
Get PDFU.S. farm-to-school (FTS) projects and programs promote the incorporation of
locally or regionally produced food, primarily fresh fruits and vegetables, in the
National School Lunch Program (NSLP), a feeding program that relies on federal
reimbursements and long, industrialized supply chains. FTS encourages the
formation of hybrid agrifood networks that utilize shortened supply chains. This
research builds upon and expands current FTS research because it examines the
experiences, motivations, practices, and perceptions of farmers in a U.S. state in
which FTS is facilitated by a state law. The state's promotion of FTS has reached
many Oklahoma farmers through meetings with the program administrator. Some
farmers have chosen to participate, while others have not. Differences in the scale
of farming operations may be important in this choice. The perspectives and
experiences of Oklahoma farmers vis-à-vis the state's FTS program reveals
structural incompatibilities between the NSLP and FTS programs, particularly for
small-scale producers. Employing the concepts of embeddedness, marketness, and
economic instrumentalism, this study analyzes Oklahoma's FTS actor networks
within the overarching political economy of the NSLP. It integrates literatures from
alternative agrifood geographies, the sociology of agriculture, and school nutrition.
Preliminary results are presented from fieldwork conducted in fall 2011 and fall
2012. Full analyses of the data will appear in future publications.
Key words: farm-to-school programs, National School Lunch Program, Oklahoma
Farm-to-School Program, embeddedness, marketness, economic instrumentalis